Person

Charles Annenberg Weingarten

Nationality:

American

Occupation:

Philanthropist and nonprofit executive

Organization:

Annenberg Foundation

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Charles Annenberg Weingarten is a vice president and director of his family’s Annenberg Foundation. He has a young daughter and lives in Los Angeles. 1

Early Life

Charles Annenberg Weingarten is the son of Wallis Annenberg and Seth Weingarten. Wallis Annenberg is the chairman and president of the Annenberg Foundation. She is also the only surviving child of the late billionaire media tycoon Walter Annenberg. 2

Charles Annenberg Weingarten was born in Roswell, New Mexico where his father was working at Walker Air Force base as a neurosurgeon. 2 His parents divorced in 1975. He worked for Triangle Publications, which was owned by his grandfather until the company was sold to Rupert Murdoch in 1988 for $3 billion. He worked as a waiter at Ivy at the Shore in Santa Monica for two months. After that he started a T-shirt company, then a yoga clothing company, and began documentary filmmaking. 3

Activity

Weingarten graduated with a master’s degree from USC’s School of Cinema-Television and a bachelor’s degree from Duke University. He is also on the board of councilors for USC’s Annenberg School of Communications and Journalism. He is currently the vice president and director of the Annenberg Foundation and is the founder of Explore, a documentary filmmaking company that he started with a library of films and photography from around the world. The company it has produced more than 250 documentary films. 4 Explore covers a variety of topics such as animal rights, education, the environment, and spirituality. Organizations and individuals that are featured in many Explore films receive funding in the form of Annenberg Foundation grants. More than $69 million has been awarded to 300 non-profit organizations worldwide through Explore. 5

After the economic crisis of 2008, Weingarten traveled all over the United States with his golden retriever Lucky, documenting the stories of people affected by the recession. After documenting veteran-related causes in Sun Valley, Idaho, he created Dog Bless You, which funds service dog training for veterans struggling with PTSD. He also founded and launched the Live Nature Network, which broadcasts more than 200 live streams of animals in their natural habitats. 6

Weingarten spearheads the Annenberg Foundation’s creative initiatives, such as the Annenberg Film Fellows Program at the Sundance Institute and the Charles Annenberg Weingarten Program on Online Communities (APOC). 7 His philanthropy has supported a variety of educational organizations and programs such as the Anwu School in China, the Leadership Center at the Herb Alpert Educational Village at the New Visions Foundation, the African American History Camps and the Avery Scholars Program at the Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture. He also funded organizations such as Rescue Foundation in India and B’Tselem’s Shooting Back Program in Israel. 1

References

  1. Charles Annenberg Weingarten.” Annenberg Foundation. Accessed February 26, 2022. https://annenberg.org/bio/charles-annenberg-weingarten/.
  2. Colacello, Bob. “Bob Colacello on Wallis Annenberg.” Vanity Fair. Last modified September 14, 2009. https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2009/10/wallis-annenberg200910.
  3. Barnes, Brooke. “Charles Annenberg Weingarten, a Philanthropist With Exotic Pet Causes.” New York Times. Last modified May 22, 2015. https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/24/style/charles-annenberg-weingarten-a-philanthropist-with-exotic-pet-causes.html.
  4. “Charles Annenberg Weingarten.” USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. Accessed February 26, 2022. https://annenberg.usc.edu/about/board-of-councilors/charles-annenberg-weingarten.
  5. “About Us.” Explore.org. Accessed February 26, 2022. https://www.explore.org/about-us.
  6. “Charles Annenberg Weingarten.” USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. Accessed February 26, 2022. https://annenberg.usc.edu/about/board-of-councilors/charles-annenberg-weingarten.
  7. The Annenberg Foundation. Accessed February 26, 2022. https://www.rpvca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1248/Annenberg-Foundation-as-Grantmakers-PDF?bidId=.
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